And albert b



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,700,745

T. E. MURRAY, JR. ET AL SWITCH BOX Filed March 12, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1T. E. MURRAY, JR, ET AL Feb. 5, 1929.

SWITCH BOX Filed March 12, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3513M 61 Lb Feb. 5, 1929.

T. E. MURRAY JR. ET AL SWITCH BOX Filed March 12: 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet314-0 014 1 o to ATM/REA 1 94% EH75 fa Fv/vs/fl. LI

Feb. 5, 1929.

1,708,745 T. E. MURRAY, JR.. ET AL SWITCH BOX Filed March 12, 1926 5Sheets-Sheet 4 mw \w Feb. 5, 1929. 1 700345 T. E. MURRAY, JR.v ET ALSWITCH BOX Fi'led March 12, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 F is a sectionapproximately on lin Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. MURRAY, JR., F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND ALBERT B. RYPINSKI, OFLAURELTON, NEW YORK; SAID RYPINSKI ASSIGNOR T0 THOMAS E. MURRAY, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SWITCH BOX.

Application filed March 12, 1926. Serial No. 94,135.

This invention relates to improvements in switch boxes having associatedtherewith a protective fuse or fuses, the switch boxes having means forpermitting access to the fuses without giving access to the other partsof the switch enclosed in the box. V hile not limited thereto, theswitch boxes of our invention are well adapted for use as so-calledservice entrance switches customarily placed on the service side of thewatt meter used for measuring the current furnished the con sumer.

The invention will be readily understood from the followingspecification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the switch box showing in fulllines the position of the switch operating handle when the current is 0'turned on and in dotted lines the position to which the handle is turnedin cutting off current Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the switch box ofFig. 1 showing the main cover swung to open position so as to giveaccess to the switch terminals;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the switch box showing a supplementalcover opened to give access to the fuses without permitting access tothe switch parts;

Fig. l is a front view of the switch box of Fig. 1 with the front coversectioned 05, the View being approximately on section line &i of Fig. 6;

55 of Fig. (3;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a horizontalsection on line 77 of ig. l;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail illustrating means for preventingmovement of the switch blades when the supplemental cover is in the openposition shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of switch box;

Fig-i0 a perspective view of the box of Fig. 9 with the main cover swungopen;

11 is a front view of the s vitch box f '9 with the front coversectioned ofi Fig. 1:2 is a section on line -1212 of Fig. 11

Fig. 13 is a detail view showing the supplemental cover of Fig. 12 swungto a (litterent position,

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of-part of the switch mechanism, the viewbeing take on line l4:1tt of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the quick breakingaction of the switch blade;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but showing another switch bladelocated in a lower plane than that indicated in Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a carrier for the switch blades andfuse;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing a group of certain parts whichform part of the assembly shown in Fig. 17.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, 10 is a back plate of theswitch box, 12 integral side plates and 14 a bottom plate. At the top ofthe plate 10 a flange 16 is bent rearwardly and to this is bolted or otherwise secured an attaching bracket 18. Near the bottom of the box abracket 20 is secured, this bracket having lugs 22 formed withv suitablescrew holes for fastening the box in position. Atop plate 2a is rivetedor otherwise permanently secured to the sides 12, this top plate beingformed with a cut away portion 26 of sutiicient size to permit theentrance of the lower portion of the watt meter which is secured to theback plate 10 in any suitable manner, for example, by a bolt passingthrough the holes 28.

All of the switch terminals, switch mechanism and protective fuses arelocated within the walls of the switch box and the cosign of the box issuch that access to the swi ch parts and terminals can only be had whenthe main cover is opened. Normally, this cover is closed and a seal ofsome sort is put on it to prevent consumers from tampering with theswitches. This main cover is only intended to be opened by employees ofthe power company. The main cover has secured thereto a supplementalcover which may be opened at will by the consumer for the purpose ofreplacing fuses.

In the drawings, the main cover is indicated as a whole by numeral 30and the supplemental cover by numeral 32. The main cover is provided onits four edges with suitable flanges 34 which in closed position overlapthe top, bottom and side walls 2%, 14: and 12 of'the box. The main cover30 is hinged to one side wall 12, the connection being conveniently madeby straps 36which pass through slots 38 and arebentaround as shown. Asuitable spring latch 39 passes through a slot 40 formed in the frontface of the cover and a portion 42 of this latch is punched up to forman engaging tooth. The punching of this tooth provides an openingthrough which a wire seal can be inserted. Or as indicated in Fig. 9,the latch 39 may be provided with an opening 39 for the insertion of thehasp of a padlock. 7

At approximately the central portion of the main cover the metal thereofis pressed outwardly in theform of a hollow boss indicated at 44. Thefront wall 46 of this boss is cut away to form a substantially circularopening indicated at 48 with notched portions 50 and 52 located beyondthe circle;

The supplemental cover 32 is of substantially frustoconical form and isof such diameter that it fits over the hollow boss 44 when in closedposition as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7.

The supplemental cover 32 is provided with hinges 54 which areaccommodated within the cut away portion 50- The supplemental cover isalso provided with locking-lugs 56 formed with a bent piece of metalsecured to the upper edge of the supplemental cover by rivets 58. Theshape of each lug 56 is such that when the supplemental cover 32 israised to open position as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8 the ends '59 ofsaid lugs will enter notches 60 formed in the periphery of a carriermember 62 which supports the switch blades and fuses to be hereinaftermore fully referred to.

When the supplemental cover 32 is swung to closed position as indicatedin Figs. 2 and 6, the extremities 59 of the locking-lugs will be swungto such position that they will clear the periphery of the carrier 62. V

The carrier 62 is provided with other notches 64 and 66 for engagementwith the ends 68 and 70, respectively, of a driver 72 which is securedby means of screws 74 or the like to a hub 76 of an operating handle 78which hub lSSllOlllt'lQlGCl-ClOWD as shown in Fig. 7 and journalled inan opening in the front wall of the supplemental cover. The hub 76carries an upstanding perforated lug 80 which adapted atdifferent timesto coact with lugs 82 and 84 secured to the front face of thesupplemental cover. lug 80contacts with lug 82 as indicated'in fulllines in Fig. 1, the switch blades 86, 88, and 92 carried by the carrier62 will engage their respective terminal contacts 94, 96, 98 and 100. Ifdesired, a padlock hasp may be passed through the openings in the lugs80 and 82 to lock the switch in closed position. Alternatively, theswitch may be locked open by swinging the handle 78 tothe dottedposition toFig. 1 and engagingthepadlock or the like with the lugs 80and 84 The driving connection between the carrier 62 and the handle 78,it is understood, is through the When the driver 72', the ends 68 and 70of which press against the side walls of the notches 64 and 66 whenthehandle is turned. The driver 72 also serves to lock the supplementalcover 32 to the main cover when the switch carrier member 62 is inposition in which the blades make contact with the terminal jaws. Thislocking feature is best illustrated in Fi s. 2, 3 and 7 wherein it isseen that the ends 68 and 70 of the driver are provided with notches 102and 104 which straddle the front wall of the main cover 30. When theoperating handle 78 is turned in position to break contact between theblades 86, 88, 90 and 92, and contact jaws 94, 96, 98 and 100, thedriver 72 will be swung, to such position that the ends thereof willswing into alignment with the cut away portions 50 and 52 and thuspermit the supplemental cover to be swung open.

The contact jaws 94, 96, 98 and are all rigidly secured to a base 106 ofsuitable dielectric material. his base'in turn is secured to the backplate 10 of the switch box by'suitable bolts 108, the base preferablybeing spaced from the surfaces of the wall by inwardly projecting bosses110 through which the securing bolts 108 pass.

The carrier 62is pivotally secured to the base 106 by means of a bolt112 having an enlarged head 114 seated in a recess formed in thecarrier. The opposite end of the bolt is screw threaded and providedwith a washer 116 and lock nuts 118 located in the recess formed in thebase. The base 116 and carrier 62 are provided, respectively, withbosses 122 and 124 and a washer 126 is interposed between the bosses toeliminate friction between the parts, these parts frequent- 1y beingmade of porcelain or ther dielectic compounds. thereof cut away so as toform stop shoulders indicated at 128 and 130 in Fig. 5 which are adaptedto coact with lugs 182 and 184 projecting from the carrier. These lugsand stops permit the carrier to turn through an angle of approximately90 as will be und-ersteod.

The switch blades86, 88 are electrically connected with one another bymeans of a fuse 186 of the cartridge type which at one end engages theclip 138 which makes circuit through the screw 140 secured to the blade86. The opposite end of the fuse 136 engages a clip 142 which iselectrically connected by means of screw 144 with the switch blade 88. ny, a fuse 146 engages clips 148 and 150 connected respectively with theswitch blades 90 and The fuses and clips just referred to are preferablylocated in cavities such as indicated at 152 and 154. Thus they areseparated by the barrier portions indicated at 156. ,-This prevents thelikelihood of any metallic object being in adverently bridged across thefuse clips of opposite polarity and thereby causing a The boss 122 hasportions turn in a counterclocl-nvise direction.

short circuit. It is to be noted that the fuses and the clips arephysically isolated from the switch blades, the latter being located onon side of the carrier and the former being lo cated in cavities on theopposite side the carrier. This arrangement prevents consumer fromtampering with the swi ch blades or connections. As a further means ofpreventing unscrupulous persons from inserting a wire or thin toolbetween the main cover and the carrier so as to make a connection withthe switch terminals, the carrier is shouldered as indicated at 158 inFigs. 6 and 7 and a portion of reduced diameter indicated at 160projects through the opening l8 formed in the face of the main cover.The diameter of the portion 160 is just a trifle smaller than thedian'i-eter of the opening 48, hence, when the main cover is closed itwill be very difiicult to insert a thin tool, and any such tool or wireinserted would strike the shoulder 158.

From the above, the operation of the switch box will be readilyunderstood. Normally. the main cover will be locked in the closedposition shown, for example, in Fig. 1 and the operating handle 78 willbe vertically disposed. The driver 72 will be in the full line positionshown in Figs. 2 and 6, therefore, the supplemental cover 32 will belocked to the main cover while the switch blades are in engagement withtheir respective switch jaws. If a fuse blows out, the handle 78 isturned clockwise through an angle of about This will swing the driver 72to approximately vertical position so as to bring the ends thereof inregister with the cut away portions 50 and 52. This permits thesupplemental cover to be swung upward on its hinge to the positionindicated in Fig. 3 so as to permit access to the fuses. In 2 and 3, thefuses have been omitted in the interest of clearness. It is perfectlysafe for an inexperienced person to insert the fuses between clipsbecause when the carrier is in the position shown in Fi 3 the switchblades are disconnected from the switch jaws.

After new fuses have been inserted, the

supplemental cover '32 will be swung downwardly and the handle 7 8 givena qua This Will simultaneously lock the simplementa cover to the maincover and bring the s\ ch bladesinto contact with the switch in vs.

This will complete the electrical circuit on one side of the linethrough terminal 162, switch jaw 91, blade 86, fuse 136. blade 88,switch jaw 96. and lead wire 16%. On the other side of the line thecircuit will be completed through terminal 166, switch jaw 98, blade 90,fuse 1&6, blade 92, contact jaw and lead wire 168.

In the above described embodiment of the invention we employ so-calledcartridge fuses between the switch blades. In a. slightly modifiedembodiment of the invention as shown in Figs. 9 to 18 inclusive, weemploy a fuse of the screw plug type. Referring to this form of theinvention the dielectric base 170 carries lined contact jaws 172 and 174which coact with the switch blades 176 and 178 respectively. The blade176 is bent to the form best shown in Fig. 18 and its inner end isprovided with an opening 180 adapted to fit around a boss 182 formed ona block 18% of suitable dielectric material. The underside of this blockis notched out as shown at 186 to receive the inner end of the blade178. A screw shell or socket 188 is provided for receiving a known typeof screw threaded fuse plug. The side wall of the screw shell 188 is cutaway at 190 to permit the passage therethrough of the inner end of theswitch blade 176 and the bottom of the shell 188 is apertured as at 192for engagement with the boss 182. The inner end of the switch blade 176makes electrical contact with the metallic screw shell 188 as shown in12. T he switch blade 178 makes electrical contact with a centralbolt'lll which has an inner head 196 adapted for coaction with the usualcentral button or contact of the fuse plug. The head 196 bears againstan insulating washer 198 of mica or the like and a nut 200 bears on awash r which is seated against a suitable shoulder on the bolt 1% so asto hold the parts in assemblec relationship.

A boss 202 projecting inwardly from the base 170 forms a seat for theblock 18% and also for a carrier 20% of sleeve-like form which enclosesthe screw shell 188 and the block 18%. The boss 202 is cut away so as toform stop shoulders 206 and 208 which coact with the switch blade 178 soas to limit the rotary movement of the carrier to approximately 90.

The carrier 20% at its forward end is provided with a rounded portion210 which proj ects through the substantially circular opening 212formed in the front wall 214; of the main cover 216 of the switch box.The carrier 20 1: is also provided with a flange 218 of larger diameterthan. the opening 212 so as to prevent the entrance of wires or otherthin objects between the wall of the cover and the carrier.

The flange 218 provided with notches 220 which cooperate with locking in's carried by a supplemental cover which is pivoted by means of a hinge226 to the main cover 216. When the supplemental cover is lifted thelocking lugs 222 enter the notches 220 and thereby prevent movement ofthe switch blades to closed position so long as the supplementalcover isin open position. i-"i hen the supplem ntal cover is closed, the lugs222 clear the periphery of the flange 218 and a projecting tongue 228 ofa drive memand engages the walls o1 a slot 256 ber 230 which is pivotedat 232 in the center of the supplemental cover and enter a depression234 formed in the carrier 20%. lVhen the supplemental cover is swung toclosed position, the tongue enters the recess 23% and a projection 286on said tongue passes freely through a notch 288. The driver 230 isactuated by a suitable operating handle 240 located on the outside ofthe supplemental cover, this handle being pivoted on the same stud 232which supports the driver and being connected with the latter by meansof a shouldered rivet 242 .vhich passes freely through an arcuate slot2% formed in the front wall of the supplemental cover. e

in; handle 240 is provided with locking ears 2 25 and 248 by means ofwhich the same can be locked to a fixed perforated projection 250 whichis part of thesame stamping which forms the locking lugs 222 and thehinge of the supplemental cover.

In this term of the invention it will be seen that we also provide forsimultaneously locking the supplemental cover and moving the carrierwhich supports the switch blades so that wheneverthe supplemental coveris in open position, the switch blades will be out oi contact with thelive switch jaws.

In the modified construct-ion we have provided snap mechanism forquickly breaking the circuit so as to avoid arcin n As best shown inFigs. 11, 12 and 18 the snap mechanism includes a helical spring 252which is conveniently seated within the convolutions of the threads ofthe screw shelllSS. @ne end 25 of this spring extends radially outwardformed in the rounded portion 210 of the carrier 204. The opposite endof the spring 252 is bent at an angle as indicated at 258 in Fig. 18 soas to press against the switch blade 176. is thus arranged when thecarrier 20 i is turned clockwise as viewed from the top in Fig. 17, thecarrier will first move relatively to the switch blade 176, thus tendingto expand the spring. The switch blade passes through a slot 177 in thecarrier which is or suit length to permit this relative movement. ll henthe wall 179 of this slot strikes the edge of the switch blade thesamewill be moved positively. The turning force exerted through the handleby the operator will be sufficient to overcome the -triction between thecontact jaw 172-and the swi ch blade 17 Thus the switch blade will bepositive moved by the operator say to the dotted position. in 15. Itwill then snap by reason ot the stored energy in say to the positionindicated in full lines in Fig. 1 thus making the desired quick real; ofth circuit so as to prevent arcing.

he base 170 also carries terminals 250 and 262 which are connected bymeans of a knife switch 2 3: which can be operated only when the maincover 216 is open. Another supplemental terminal 266 is secured to thebase but this too canonly be reached when he main cover is open.

In the structures shown and above described, electrical connections totwo fuses are opened upon rotation oi the fuse carrier but it is to beunderstood that the invention may be readily embodied in switches inwhich only one oi the two fuse terminals is disconnected by rotation ofthe carrier.

l /l ile we have described quite specifically the structural details ofthe embodiments of the invention illustrated, it is not to be construedthat we are limited thereto since various modifications and substitutionof equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art without departurefrom the invention as de fined in the appended claims.

What we claim is l. A. switch be having dielectric base therein, acombined switch contact and fuse carrier wit iin the box journalled inrelation to said be e, a main cover formed with an opening giving accessto the carrier and a supplemental cover for said opening which can onlybe moved to open position after said carrier is rotatedto its openposition, said supplemental cover being hinged to and swingableoutwardly from said main cover.

A switch box having a rotating carrier therein, switch blades bridged bya fuse on said carrier, a cover on the switch box having an openingwhich gives access only to said fuse, a supplemental cover't'or saidopening,- said supplemental cover being hinged and locked againstopening movement about said hinge until the switch blades have beenretated to the oil position.

3. A switch box of claim 2 with the added ture that the carrier isshouldered and proled with a part projecting tl rough the op 11mg insaid cover.

A switch box having a rotary carrier therein, switch blades and a fusesupported by said carrier, :1 cover for said switcii box having' anopening which gives access only to said iuse, a supplemental cover forsaid op ning which can be moved independently lfill the rotary switchcarrier is in the oil posi and means cooperating with said carrier anlocking the supplemei'ital cover to the othe cover.

switch i having a rotary carrier 7 ides and a fuse supported 'ier, acover tor said'switch bot; ch g ves access only to a supplemei "alhinged cover for o ring, and 1 cans for preventing of said carrier whensaid suppleswitch her having a switch and fuse cover hinged to the maincover and arranged to normally cover an opening in the latter throughwhich access to only the fuses can be had, and means for locking thecarrier when said supplemental cover is opened.

7. A switch box having secured thereto a base of dielectric materialcarryin terminal contacts, a rotary dielectric carrier having switchblades for engagement with said con tacts, a fuse electrically connectedwith said blades but physically isolated from them by said dielectriccarrier, a cover which when open permits access to said terminals andswitch parts and a hinged supplemental cover swingable outwardly fromthe main cover and which normally encloses the part of the carrier whichsupports said fuse and a single handle for rotating the switch car- "ierand opening the supplemental cover.

8. The switch box of claim 7 including means for preventing rotation ofthe carrier when the supplemental cover is in open position.

9. A. switch box housing a switch base having a notched carrierpivotally mounted thereon, a main cover, and a supplemental coverhingedthereto having a lug adapted to swing into a notch in said carrier whensaid supplemental cover is opened and a switch handle journalled on saidsupplc mental cover.

10. A switch box housing a switch base having a notched carrierpivotally mounted thereon, a main cover, said carrier being shoulderedand said main cover having an opening therein through which a reducedportion of said carrier extends, a fuse located in said carrier andswitch blades electrically connected with said fuse but physicallyseparated therefrom, a supplemental cover hinged to said main cover andmeans secured to said supplemental cover for simultaneously turning thecarrier and locking the supplemental cover to the main cover.

11. A switch box having a base therein carrying fixed switch contacts, acombined switch and fuse carrier pivotally supported in relation to saidbase within the switch box, a main cover having an opening therein inalignmentwith said carrier, a supple mental cover hinged to the maincover having a lug adapted to swing into a notch in the carrier when theSuPPlOlDIltzll cover is opened, said carrier having one face recessedand carrying a fuse, the opposite face of said carrier having a switchblade secured thereto adapted to coact with a contact carried by saidbase.

12. A switch box housing a switch base having a notched carrier pivotaly mounted thereon, a main cover, and a supplemental cover hingedthereto having a lug adapted to swing into a notch in said carrier whensaid suppleincm'al cover is opened, said carrier having one face i'eceed and carrying a fuse, the opposite face or said carrier having aswitch blade secured thereto and means carried by said supplementalcover for simultaneously turning the carrier and locking thesupplemental cover to the main cover.

13. A switch be comprising a sheet metal back plate, side walls and abottom wall, a front cover engaging said side and bottom walls, a switchbase secured within the box and having contact jaws, a. carrier pivotedon said base, switch blades and a fuse bric ging the latter supported onsaid carrier, a supplemental cover hinged to said front cover, anoperating handle journalled on the supplemental cover and a memberconnected thereto arranged to transmit a turning movement to saidcarrier and to lock the supplemental cover to said front cover.

14. A switch box, a combined switch contact and fuse carrier rotatablewithin said box, a main cover having an opening therein within whichsaid carrier rotates and adapted to give access to the fuse supported bythe carrier, a hinged supplemental cover for said opening swingable awayfrom the main cover and which can only be moved to open position aftersaid carrier is rotated to the open position.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

THOMAS E. MURRAY. JR. ALBERT B. RYPINSKI.

